April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
Stem Cells Play a Key Role in the Formation of the Human Choroidal Vasculature and Mural Cells
A. Korlimbinis; L. Baxter; S. Yun; J. Dahlstrom; M. Koina; R.-A. Sterling; E. Bean; S. Hughes; T. Chan-Ling
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • A. Korlimbinis
    Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • L. Baxter
    Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • S. Yun
    Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • J. Dahlstrom
    Pathology Department, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
  • M. Koina
    Pathology Department, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
  • R.-A. Sterling
    Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • E. Bean
    Pathology Department, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
  • S. Hughes
    Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • T. Chan-Ling
    Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  A. Korlimbinis, None; L. Baxter, None; S. Yun, None; J. Dahlstrom, None; M. Koina, None; R.-A. Sterling, None; E. Bean, None; S. Hughes, None; T. Chan-Ling, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia (#464859, #571100), Baxter Charitable Foundation, Macular Vision Support Society, Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 4939. doi:
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      A. Korlimbinis, L. Baxter, S. Yun, J. Dahlstrom, M. Koina, R.-A. Sterling, E. Bean, S. Hughes, T. Chan-Ling; Stem Cells Play a Key Role in the Formation of the Human Choroidal Vasculature and Mural Cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):4939.

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Abstract

Purpose: : To undertake the first complete study of human choroidal vascular formation & determine the role played by stem cells.

Methods: : Human foetal eyes aged 8-40 weeks gestation (WG) were examined. Choroidal & retinal wholemounts & histological sections were examined using antibodies for stem & precursor cell populations: Vimentin, CD14, CD34, CD39 & SMA; the vasculature: CD39, CD34, CD31 & Factor VIII; & mural cells: SMA, Desmin, NG2, Calponin & Caldesmon. Endothelial proliferation was examined by double-labelling with BrdU & CD34. TEM and H & E histology was also undertaken.

Results: : Vimentin+ mesenchymal precursor cells were evident in the region of the incipient choroid at 9 WG, & down regulation of Vimentin was evident with maturation. CD14+ vascular precursor cells (VPCs) were evident in the choroidal stroma throughout foetal life. CD39+/CD34+ VPCs were evident within the choroidal stroma from 10 WG, interspersed amongst CD39+ solid vascular chords in the central one-third of the choroid surrounding the optic nerve head. SMA+ mural precursor cells (MPCs) were scattered & isolated over the primordial vascular tree at 12WG. Non vascular-associated SMA+/CD34+/--/ NG2+/desmin- presumed MPCs were associated with immature choroidal blood vessels at 12, 18 & 20 WG. Calponin & caldesmon were expressed only on the large vessels. Remarkably, pericytes were absent on human choroidal vessels.

Conclusions: : We conclude that formation of the human choroid takes place via transformation from Vimentin+ mesenchymal precursor cells to CD14+/CD39+/SMA+ precursor cells representing the monocytic vascular and mural cell lineages respectively. Vasculogenesis plays a greater role in formation of human choroid than previously reported but angiogenesis also contribute to vascular density in the formation of the human choroid. We have shown that CD44+ stem cells give rise to SMA+ smooth muscle cells & CD39+ vascular endothelial cells in the human choroid. Moreover, there is a marked difference in pericyte ensheathment between choroidal & retinal vessels, underlying the marked difference in auto-regulatory ability reported between the two vascular plexii.

Keywords: retinal development • choroid: neovascularization • age-related macular degeneration 
© 2009, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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